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Valencia earn valuable draw at Chelsea

April 05, 2007 02:48 IST

Champions League
Quarter-finals first leg

AS Roma 2 Manchester United 1
Chelsea 1 Valencia 1

Valencia earned a valuable 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Wednesday in a combative first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Valencia took the lead with a stunning 30th minute strike by David Silva which flew past Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech but Chelsea's Didier Drogba nodded his 30th goal of the season in the 53rd minute to equalise.

In the other quarter-final of the night, AS Roma beat a 10-man Manchester United 2-1.

Chelsea will be frustrated at the outcome after having most of the possession, but Valencia kept it tight at the back and played some sharp incisive football going forward.

The away goals rule tips the tie in the Spaniards' favour as a goalless draw in next Tuesday's second leg will see them through to the semi-finals, most likely against Liverpool after their 3-0 first leg win over PSV Eindhoven.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho went for an attacking line-up with Claude Makelele dropped in favour of John Obi Mikel in the holding midfield role, striker Salomon Kalou on the right flank and Drogba paired with Andriy Shevchenko up front.

Source: REUTERS
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